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Hagerstown officials weigh response to Washington County’s APFO and excise tax changes amid school‑capacity concerns
Summary
City staff briefed the Hagerstown City Council on proposed Washington County amendments to the adequate public facilities ordinance and the excise‑tax ordinance, and the council asked staff to prepare a memo and pursue staff-level talks after concerns about school-seat counts and fee use were raised.
City staff presented Washington County’s proposed amendments to the adequate public facilities ordinance (APFO) and to the county excise-tax ordinance at the May 13 work session and asked the Hagerstown City Council for feedback while the county record remained open.
Steven Bachmiller briefed the council on the county proposals, saying the county plans to adjust excise-tax rates (noting a residential new‑construction excise tax would move from $1 per square foot to $2) and that the county is shifting some fee structure items from the APFO into the excise-tax ordinance. Bachmiller said state law treats county and municipal APFOs separately, so the county’s APFO amendments do not legally change the city’s APFO status, but they could have indirect or pass‑through effects.
Councilman Alshar gave an extended statement urging the city to press the county for clarification and additional data. He asked staff to address specific points in a memo: the county memo’s description of removing the AMC from the APFO and applying it to the county excise tax; the county staff estimate that the city had cost the county roughly $2 million in school-construction funds because the city lacks an APFO; and whether the county’s stated rationale (residential growth driving school overcrowding) matches school-seat and redistricting data. Alshar noted the presence of many vacant seats across the county’s elementary, middle and high schools, and he said the city has a disproportionate number of portables at South Hagerstown High School.
Staff confirmed the record was open for two weeks and that any city comment would be due by the following Tuesday. Council members asked staff to prepare a memo that responds to Alshar’s points and to pursue staff‑level conversations with county staff prior to or in addition to formal comments. The council did not take a formal vote; members agreed to prepare feedback for the county while continuing informal discussions.
